Why Relationships Matter

Take our Can You Spot Red Flags In A Relationship?

Find a therapist to strengthen relationships

Avoiding conflict can feel safe, but it may prevent relationships from becoming closer.

Disagreement gives us information about how others respond when we're vulnerable.

Navigating conflict successfully can help build trust over time.

Most of us don't think of conflict as a relationship-building activity. We tend to view a disagreement as evidence that something has gone wrong. If the relationship is strong, we should always get along, right?

Avoiding conflict can seem like the safest way to protect a relationship. This can look like letting the irritating comment go or going along with the group when making plans. In the short term, you keep the peace, but you may also have missed an opportunity to become closer.

Conflict, when handled well, allows two people to learn something important about their relationship. Through conflict, you collect evidence that you can disagree, disappoint each other, and even get angry with each other without threatening the relationship itself.

Why Conflict Feels So Risky

The first time you have a disagreement with someone, it’s scary—you don’t know what’s going to happen. When you tell someone you're hurt, ask them to change their........

© Psychology Today